Manhattan, NY According to the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), it will kick off its first ever #REBNYTech Hackathon, hosted by its newly formed REBNYTech Committee, on Friday, October 13 through Sunday, October 15, 2017 at the Urban Tech Hub at Grand Central Tech (335 Madison Avenue, 10017).

Over these three days during NYC Real Estate Tech Week 2017, this event will bring together 200 professionals in the property and technology industries to hack cutting edge solutions to real-world challenges faced by the world’s leading real estate companies. In addition to the competition, the #REBNYTech Hackathon will feature speakers from across PropTech and real estate.

Eligible applicantsmay participate either as part of a team of up to five people, or on an individual basis. Teams will work across six challenge categories to compete for a total of $75,000 in cash and prizes:

AEC and Development;

Brokerage, Cybersecurity;

Geospatial Intelligence;

Sustainable Maintenance and Operations; and

Open Hack.

Entries will be judged based on originality/creativity, innovation, analytical skills, strategic thinking, and practical implementation.The entry that earns the highest overall score in each of the six categories will win the #REBNYTech Hackathon challenge for that category, receive a $2,500 prize, and qualify for the three month Gauntlet Challenge.During the following three months, the six winners will be given free office space and allowed to refine their existing REBNYTech Hackathon Entries to meet at least one of the provided real-world challenges faced by real estate companies, and compete for the $35,000 Gauntlet Challenge prize to implement their solution.

“We invite all professionals interested in the many opportunities that lie in PropTech innovation for the real estate sector, to participate in the competition and hear from real estate and technology leaders,” said John Banks, REBNY president. “This event, made possible through the support of our REBNYTech Committee, will provide a platform for our members to connect with innovative Hackathon participants and come early 2018, our members may have new, functional PropTech solutions to some of the most common problems observed in the real estate industry.”

“Building owners and managers are building new technology tools to improve efficiency across all levels of property management,”said John Gilbert III, Rudin Management’s COO and REBNYTech Committee co-chair. “The Hackathon will broaden REBNY members’ access to the tech talent needed to create these tools and help them to identify cutting edge ideas for investment.”

“The Hackathon continues the commitment of REBNY and its members to New York City’s growth and competitiveness,” said Winston Fisher, Fisher Brothers partner and REBNYTech Committee co-chair. “In addition to solving real estate industry needs, we’re building a pipeline that will connect highly skilled minds with innovative jobs within the industry.”

Earlier this year, REBNY launched the REBNYTech Committee, whose mission is to ensure that New York City remains the leading edge of the global PropTech ecosystem. By gathering leading investors, executives, and principals within REBNY membership on the premise of pursuing PropTech together, the REBNYTech Committee was established to create a pipeline that will help solve the industry’s largest needs through innovation and collaboration.